Who We Are

Founded in 1999, The Better World Group is a recognized leader in environmental strategy, policy development and coalition management. We specialize in strategic positioning, constituency building, public relations, policy analysis, media relations and communications, and special events, with a focus on air quality and global warming, advanced transportation and clean energy technologies, livable communities and other leading environmental policy issues.

We utilize an extensive network of environmental policy makers and political leaders at all levels of government to advance various initiatives. We work closely with various sectors of the entertainment industry in generating support for environmental programs and policies.  

Additionally, we have expertise in the legal rules governing, and practical implementation of, foundation and nonprofit public policy and advocacy.

Better World Group – Southern California Team

	Wendy James, President (Full Bio) Expertise: Strategic framing of environmental strategies; extensive knowledge of global warming and clean air policy issues; coalition management; complex public policy issue shaping; media relations and communications strategy; relationship-building with elected officials; and highly regarded political acumen.
	Sharon Wrathall, CFO (Full Bio) Expertise: Event planning and implementation; extensive graphics and design experience; project management; contract negotiation; database creation and management; direct mail advertising and design; in-depth computer experience on a variety of platforms; and budget/financial management.
	Sam Emmersen, Senior Director of Programs (Full Bio) Expertise: Conducting research and writing analytical reports; monitoring legislative and regulatory activities; wide-ranging knowledge of clean fuels technologies; programs/events management; creating/managing databases; and certified LEED 2.0 Professional.

Better World Group – Northern California Team

	Susan Frank, Executive Vice President (Full Bio) Expertise: Public policy development/analysis at all levels of government; experience working on global warming and clean air policy issues; coalition building and management; meeting/workshop facilitation; nonprofit management; and extensive knowledge of rules governing nonprofit and foundation lobbying/advocacy.
	Jason Barbose, Program Director (Full Bio) Expertise: Substantial knowledge and experience working on global warming and clean air issues at the state and federal level; coordination of media activities and outreach; strategic campaign planning; media outreach and messaging; coalition building; and policy development.

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Better World Group – Southern California Team

Wendy James
President

Wendy James is President of The Better World Group, which she founded in 1999, and directs all operations from the company’s Burbank, California office.

Over the past 30 years, James has developed unique expertise in the media, government, corporate and nonprofit sectors, with a special focus on environmental issues. She works with environmental and environmental justice groups, government organizations and progressive businesses in framing their environmental strategies and implementing advocacy campaigns in support of a wide array of policies and projects.

Prior to forming The Better World Group, Wendy served as President of the nonprofit Environmental Media Association (EMA), working closely with the entertainment industry to support various environmental initiatives. While at EMA, she launched a program focusing on the operations and production side of the entertainment industry, harnessing the industry’s purchasing power and high visibility to broaden support for environmental products and practices. Wendy’s experience in energy and the environment includes both natural gas and electric technologies. She was on the forefront of advanced transportation initiatives, heading up Southern California Edison’s Electric Transportation Division, and led the natural gas industry’s environmental outreach at the American Gas Association in Washington, D.C.

Prior to her work in the environmental field, Wendy served as press secretary for former U.S. Representative Robert W. Davis of Michigan, and served that same role while Davis was Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate. She came to the state capital at the request of Michigan’s Governor, who selected her to create and direct a statewide youth highway safety program. She began her professional career as a reporter and weekly columnist for The Evening News, a daily newspaper in Northern Michigan.

Wendy serves on the executive committees for both the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) and the California State Parks Foundation. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California-Davis, and serves on the board of Burbank Water & Power, a municipal utility serving more than 50,000 customers. In May 2009, she was elected chair of the newly-created City of Burbank Sustainability Task Force. She was appointed to the California Climate Dialogue Group by CalEPA Secretary Linda Adams and was honored by the California Climate Action Registry in 2008. In 2006, Wendy was named Small Business Woman of the Year for California’s 20th Senate District and 43rd and 44th Assembly Districts. In 2009, she was honored by the Coalition for Clean Air with a Ralph B. Perry III Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wendy has a B.A. degree in Journalism from Michigan State University, with minors in Political Science and Economics. She is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.  > BACK TO TOP

Sharon Wrathall
CFO

Sharon L. Wrathall is CFO of The Better World Group and is responsible for all financial, information technology and administrative operations, as well as directing all of the graphics/design and event planning projects for the company. She was The Better World Group’s first employee hired, joining in 2000, and is based in the Burbank, California, office.

With over 20 years of management experience – in both large corporate settings and small business operations – Sharon has developed expertise in the areas of project management, contract negotiation and administration, event planning and implementation, budget forecasting, as well as oversight, coordination and training of administrative support personnel. Her graphic design work ranges from brochures and fliers to newsletters, PowerPoint presentations and full-color illustrated comprehensive reports. In addition, she has vast experience in database management and direct mail advertising and design.

Sharon has in-depth working knowledge of various computer platforms and applications including QuarkXpress, PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher (graphic layout programs); Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; QuickBooks (accounting program); FileMaker Pro, FilePro Plus and Microsoft Access (database programs); and Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat and PowerPoint. 

In addition to her many financial and operational responsibilities, Sharon is in her sixth year of organizing and managing a one-day resource and employment expo for the City of Los Angeles Department on Disability. > BACK TO TOP

Samara (Sam) Emmersen
Senior Director of Programs

As Senior Director of Programs, Sam Emmersen has day-to-day responsibility for a variety of the firm’s projects as well as conducting research and writing reports to support a number of client activities. She joined The Better World Group in 2001 and is based in the company’s Burbank, California, office.

Sam researches and writes the monthly Clean Transportation Policy Update, tracking legislation and key administrative activities affecting transportation and alternative fuels in California, as well as a quarterly newsletter exploring similar issues. Other research projects have included summarizing the U.S. Supreme Court majority opinion and dissenting opinions on the EPA's authority to regulate global warming pollution, memoranda on the benefits and drawbacks of using biodiesel and ultra-low sulfur diesel in fleet vehicles and an overview of current emissions control technology with the use of these fuels. 

Sam handled all of the day-to-day management for the company’s multi-year Playgrounds for Preschoolers and Hollywood Recycles projects, working with clients, conducting outreach, directing media, coordinating events and materials development. She provides the primary interface with the client and project partners/grant recipients for the firm’s work with the Clean Transportation Funding program of the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. She created and maintains environmental media databases including a database of more than 5,000 names of Southern California policy makers, including all elected officials and the heads of city and county departments.

Sam holds a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School and a LL.M. in Law and Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. She also is accredited by the United States Green Building Council as a LEED 2.0 Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). > BACK TO TOP

Better World Group – Northern California Team

Susan Frank
Executive Vice President

Susan joined The Better World Group in January 2008 as Executive Vice President and is based in the company’s Silicon Valley office in Mountain View, California.

Susan is known statewide for her expertise in public policy development, coalition management, and nonprofit lobbying/advocacy having served as CEO and in several senior-level roles in nonprofit organizations over the last 20 years. Her current project work includes coordinating environmental and consumer organizations across seven western states and four Canadian provinces engaged in the Western Climate Initiative process. She is coordinating an alliance of businesses and business associations across the state who support California’s climate plan (AB 32). She provides air quality policy advice to a large California transportation agency and to a number of regional and statewide environmental organizations. She is also advising Silicon Valley Community Foundation as it develops and implements a variety of programs to engage in public policy advocacy and grantmaking. In 2009, Susan was recognized in 2009 by Breathe California for her management of a statewide coalition of environmental, public health and environmental justice advocates that successfully campaigned for a strong diesel truck and bus pollution regulation.

From 1999 to 2007, Susan served in a variety of roles for the Bay Area-based Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation including as President & CEO and Vice President, Public Policy. As chief executive, she was responsible for the organization's strategic planning, budget planning and development, staff management, external relations, and public policy/advocacy. In terms of advocacy, she represented the Foundation on legislative and regulatory activities at all levels of government. Her primary policy focus was advocating for improved air quality in California's San Joaquin Valley. She also developed extensive knowledge and experience working on global warming, clean vehicles, and pesticide issues.

Susan has been a member of the Board of Directors for the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) since November 2005, and currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Endorsements Committee and a member of the Development Committee. Previously, she served on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research (2001-2007) and Coalition for Clean Air (2001-2005), as well as serving on a variety of other local, nonprofit boards of directors.

Prior to joining the Kirsch Foundation, Susan served as President & CEO of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce in Palo Alto, California, for eight years. In addition to being the organization's chief executive, she was integrally involved in developing chamber policy and legislative positions on a variety of issues including regional transportation concerns, land use issues, and environmental health and safety. 

Susan has an A.B. in English from Stanford University. > BACK TO TOP

Jason Barbose
Program Director

Jason Barbose joined the Better World Group in September 2008 as Program Director based in the company’s San Francisco, California office.

Jason is an expert on global warming and clean air issues at the state and federal level. His current project work includes coordinating environmental advocates’ work to successfully implement California’s landmark global warming law (Assembly Bill 32), which aims to slash global warming emissions in California by 30% by 2020. He is also working with U.S. and Canadian environmental and consumer groups on the Western Climate Initiative process, and with environmental groups working to strengthen California’s clean car standards through rulemakings at the California Air Resources Board. In addition, Jason has worked with organizations such as Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP) providing counsel and research to support advocacy on housing, school, and outdoor air quality issues.

As Global Warming Advocate for Environment California from 2006 to 2008, he played a leadership role in successfully lobbying for and implementing landmark California legislation as well as leading extensive coalition organizing and outreach. He chaired the Global Warming Action Coalition’s Market Mechanisms Committee and played a leadership role representing California in the Western Climate Advocates Network (WeCAN), a network of advocates around the Western U.S. and Canada working to advance critical issues related to the Western Climate Initiative. Jason has extensive skills in strategic campaign planning, media outreach and messaging, coalition building, and policy development. Prior to Environment California, Jason worked as a field organizer for Environment Michigan, running campaigns to reduce mercury pollution and protect the Great Lakes. 

Jason has a B.A. in politics from UC Santa Cruz. > BACK TO TOP